What annoyed me most was that I found that I inadvertedly kept turning the volume up, but that didn't help any. I even checked the back to see if there was maybe a gain switch..... And I don't usually play my music loud.

What annoyed me most was that I found that I inadvertedly kept turning the volume up, but that didn't help any. I even checked the back to see if there was maybe a gain switch..... And I don't usually play my music loud.

If I do something inadvertedly, I don't know why I do it the moment I do it. My wild guess now would be: To compensate for the perceived lack of *dynamics?*. I know it doesn't help, that is why it annoyed me that I found myself doing it.

I must say I never found the gain switches on the bottom. I don't think it would have made a lot of difference, considering I had the same experience with widely varying impedances (30, 65, 300 ohm), don't you think? Maybe for the K340, a bit.

This is how I experienced it. It may very well be different for other people.

Interesting to read so much positive feedback for the black cube. I even wondered about the "good value" some posted.

In germand boards it's more like "yeah, it's a good amp, no queation. But it's too expensive for what it actually does.".
I can agree that it is a good amp for Senns. (Although I think there are lower priced amps that handle Senns equaly well)
But I really didn't like it with Beyers. The BCL has some kind of artificial "glimmer" in the highest registers which annoyed me after some listening time with my DT880s. And maybe this is the reason for why it seems to have a nice synergy with Senns...

Interesting to read so much positive feedback for the black cube. I even wondered about the "good value" some posted.

In germand boards it's more like "yeah, it's a good amp, no queation. But it's too expensive for what it actually does.".
I can agree that it is a good amp for Senns. (Although I think there are lower priced amps that handle Senns equaly well)

I hadn't even taken that in account, but I agree: >600 euro ($750) is a lot of money for this amp. A comparable amp (I think) like Amity HPA4 cost less than half as much.

If I do something inadvertedly, I don't know why I do it the moment I do it. My wild guess now would be: To compensate for the perceived lack of *dynamics?*. I know it doesn't help, that is why it annoyed me that I found myself doing it.

Maybe it was that your source lacked dynamics? Or a wrong pair of ic's that were too smooth?

Maybe it was that your source lacked dynamics? Or a wrong pair of ic's that were too smooth?

Source: Cyrus CD8X. Ample dynamics I think. IC: I don't remember.

It is not a big deal to me. It is just that I was very curious because of all the positive press it got here, and (also since it is rather expensive) I expected a lot. A local shop allowed me to try it and I was rather disappointed, but that can happen. Different people have different preferences.

btw the shopkeeper told me he sold it almost exclusively in combination with HD650.....

But I really didn't like it with Beyers. The BCL has some kind of artificial "glimmer" in the highest registers which annoyed me after some listening time with my DT880s. And maybe this is the reason for why it seems to have a nice synergy with Senns...

I use a Cardas recabled DT880-'03. I think the Cardas cable makes it a bit warmer compared to a stock DT880-'03. I usually listen at low volume levels with most headphones, and do have a tendency to turn up the volume with the HD650.

The DT880-'03 with Cardas cable sounds very good in this configuration:

CDP > toslink > Chord DAC64 > XLR to RCA > Lehmann BCL > DT880

I don't agree that the Lehmann BCL has an artificial treble "glimmer." It doesn't make the HD650 brigher-sounding or enhance its treble energy.

I think the Lehmann has a smooth, detailed sound that adds very little coloration and no treble sibilance. It can be very revealing of brightness/sibilance in the upstream chain.

If you're thinking of the HD53R, I've heard a demo unit several times, and think it's not bad. I like its dual headphone 6.3mm and 3.5mm outputs, its ability to drive speakers, and the XLR inputs.

Soundwise, it is punchier and more edgy than the Lehmann BCL, which is smoother. Both amps have plenty of power, but can't really drive the K1000. I liked the AD2000 with the HD53R. I prefer the Lehmann for the K701, HD650, DT880-'03 and DT990-'05. Note that my HD53R impressions are based only on brief auditions.

Recently I've been thinking of acquiring an HD53R customized for the L3000.

Not to say anything bad about the SQ of the BCL, but I didn't like it and didn't keep it.
For me it had three disqualifying properties:
- Rather disappointing dynamics. It sounds very polite and far away. It does not give me the feeling I am realy there. I contributed it to rather poor dynamics (I may be wrong, but that is what I thought to be the cause).

Where was the gain switch when you listened to it? I had the very same problem with this amp until I figured out that setting it at 18dB and 20dB totally sped it up, gave it focus, and generally made everything more immediate and engaging. At 10dB I find this amp to be totally unengaging and distant-sounding with my HD650. I now have it set at 18dB and am blown away by it.